Daily Boost — Motivation and Personal Growth

Unlock Your Goals with Personal Accountability

Over the years, I've witnessed dozens of people set themselves up for failure by following seemingly wise advice -

"When you set a goal, make it public and tell everybody you know so they can support you."

In my experience, that could have worked better - especially on long-term goals. The reason is that nobody outside my close relationships knows me well enough to understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. That makes it challenging to provide support in meaningful ways, difficult for me to accept, and unneeded pressure on everybody.

It takes little thinking to realize the best accountability relationship needs to be based on respect and a sincere connection to have the most impact. That means there is no need to crowd-source accountability when you only need two people to keep you on track.

The first partner is the one you listen to the most - YOU! Accepting responsibility for your accountability is the most potent skill you own. 

But since you are the boss of YOU and don't always listen to yourself, you need somebody else you trust and respect who is willing to call you out on your stuff. Once they agree, let them do their job.

Getting what you want begins and ends with you, but having an accountability partner is a great way to keep you on track in the messy middle.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Capture Ideas, Unleash Potential

Over the years, I have produced over 10,000 podcasts, and every one begins with the written word. Even though that makes my mouth and fingers my most exercised body parts, it has also given me many opportunities to learn to keep my words flowing.

If you're like most people, you have found yourself sitting in front of a blank screen, praying for inspiration. It could be writer's block, procrastination, or you stayed up late watching Netflix. In any case, there's a simple solution to always having a starting point.

Any project I need to wrap my head around begins by capturing the ideas that flow into my mind throughout the day. Even turning the radio off on a 20-minute drive can provide a treasure-trove of useable nuggets. 

Next, I tucked those ideas away in a safe place without organizing, editing, or re-writing. I grab the thoughts, jot a note or record a memo, put them away, and let them simmer.

When I'm ready to get to work, I take 15 minutes the day before to review my list of creative geniuses, toss out what is not relevant, create a simple outline, and walk away knowing I am ready to begin.

The next day, I can't wait to sit in front of a blank screen and let the magic flow from my fingertips with complete ease.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mindset of a Master Negotiator

I've always believed that life is a series of presentations we continually make throughout our day.

The progress we make, the success we enjoy, and the happiness we experience directly result from our presentation skills, including negotiation.

Yes, whether you like it or not, you negotiate for everything. Once you know about a natural feeling that all parties experience during negotiation, you'll never feel like an underdog again.

Always remember-

Whenever two or more folks negotiate, they automatically feel the other has the advantage. It's natural to have the fear that things may not go your way. Stay the course, and you'll get what you want.

When you understand this simple mindset, you will automatically put yourself in a more confident position.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vision Quest for a Life on Your Terms

Do you have an image of what you would like your life to be - except when life gets in the way?

There's no doubt that daily life events have a funny way of distracting us from reaching goals. It's just too easy to put them on the back burner. That's why you need to become the keeper of your vision.

Thousands of opportunities will arrive on your path daily and detour you from what you want. That's why it's up to you to guard your vision by asking a simple question - 

Will this opportunity move me closer to my desired lifestyle or further away?

Simple.

Know YOUR vision. Defend YOUR vision. Live YOUR Vision.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fuel Your Fire For Sustained Motivation

As a child, I wondered why I couldn't always have my way. Mom and Dad were so mean! I couldn't wait to grow up, move out, and experience being an adult. Everything would be different - or so I thought.

After stepping into the adult world, it didn't take long to realize that not much had changed. It turns out it wasn't my parents. It was like turning down my requests. Life was getting in the way. What was even worse was that I was getting in my way.

I've joked over the years that if I'm the boss of me, why don't I do what I say? Eventually, I realized having a big ass goal, being on a mission, and, most importantly, motivation on demand was the solution.

Motivation is a powerful, if not fleeting, tool we all need. But we need to understand how our minds generate motivation:

1) Your physiology dictates your feelings. The easiest way to break free of a slump is to stand up, take a step, and REPEAT. Movement wakes your body, guides your emotions, and makes anything possible.

2) Focus fuels your fire. If you're unmotivated, you drift in the wind with no direction. Shifting your thoughts in a positive direction and toward what excites you will break you out and get you moving.

3) The words you say create the emotions you feel. Negative self-talk will drag you and everybody else down. Everything changes when you make the words you say to yourself, internally and externally, positive and uplifting. Words matter more than you think.

You're human. Your brain isn't wired to stay motivated constantly. It would help if you gave it a helping hand.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happiness Doesn't Require Permission

My friend Sid called to tell me he had found his next big thing. He decided to take flying lessons and couldn't wait to get started.

After hearing my Mom's stories over the years, I have always wanted to learn to fly. Her father was a contractor in Wilmington, North Carolina. When an airport client couldn't pay, he offered lessons. She was 15 years old.

Her stories of landing on the beaches of North Carolina were thrilling. Flying Solo before an arriving hurricane was captivating. We'll forget that she 3-days short of being legally old enough. Her adventurous spirit took control. With a hurricane coming, she wasn't going to ask for permission. She took command, and it put her in the record books.

By the time I began flying 50 years later, things were more controlled, and speaking on the radio to Air Traffic Control was required - and challenging. Being nervous, I often asked for permission when I wanted to do something. I would say, "This is Cessna 67508 requesting permission to…"

One day, while waiting for their response, my instructor taught me a lesson I could have learned from my Mom, "You're the Pilot in Command. Your seat is moving, and theirs isn't. Don't ask for permission. Tell them what you want and let them work it out."

What? 

I don't have to ask for anyone's permission to do what I want. 

I never asked again, in flying or anything else in life. I decide what I want to do and do it. If somebody else needs to know what I'm up to, I tell them, work out the solution, and keep moving. If not, I keep moving.

Some days, it feels like we need permission from everybody else. Don't fall into that trap. Your destiny is your choice and yours alone.

And what happened to Sid? He asked his wife for permission, and she said "no." He never took a single lesson.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Make The Law of Attraction Work

The Law of Attraction should be called the Law of What You Think About Most.

Like attracts like, what you think about, you get. 

If you think, "I won't get it because I never do," - you are correct.

Dreaming of something new while focusing on current problems is a sure way to keep spinning your wheels.

The secret is to focus your attention and actions on what you want to attract. That will require a dedicated effort. Vision Boards, lists of goals, and daily journaling are all great ways to stay on track. 

The "Law of What You Think About" is magical and straightforward…

Decide what you want. Believe it is possible. Focus on the future, not the past. Please don't stop until you get it.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Perspective Changing Questions

Long ago, I realized that life is nothing more than a giant scavenger hunt. Yes, life is full of questions, and it’s long enough for you to figure out all the essential answers. And the winners are the people who figure out the solution you seek.

Here are a few that I use regularly to get me thinking:

1) What do you want to do?

2) What do you want to have?

3) Where do you want to go?

4) What contribution do you want to make?

5) What do you want to become?

6) What do you want to learn?

7) Who do you want to spend my time?

8) How much money do you want to earn, save, and invest?

9) How much time do you want off?

10) What will you do to create optimum health?

I’ll repeat it. Life is full of questions, and it’s long enough for you to figure out all the essential answers. It’s time to get busy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Power of Expectations

Imagine how your life would improve if everybody understood what to expect.

Expectations are powerful. Pay attention to these three:

1) What do you expect of yourself? You get to decide how you approach the world.

2) What do you expect of others? Clearly, understand what you expect of others. That allows you to avoid surprises - and toxic relationships.

3) What do others expect of you? When you let others know what they can expect of you - and walk your talk - you are living in integrity.

Your life will always be more comfortable when you know what to expect of yourself and others.  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scripted Goal Setting

In the world of Scott Logic, I’ve always fought my advice that said -

When life is predictable, scripted, and process-oriented - BORING - life gets as excited as you ever dream it could be.

As a guy who likes excitement in my day, you can see why I would prefer to ignore that wisdom - and I’m not alone. Still, I don’t miss it. I prioritize that way of thinking at all costs. 

Let’s talk about that ‘scripted’ part of living.

While I love a good spontaneous day, I’ve learned that the more scripted and predictable my day, the less stress I have and the more I get done. All that means is that I know what I’ll be doing throughout the day, when I’ll be doing it, and what time I’m done for the day. Frankly, I can usually tell you what I’ll be doing weeks in advance. Maybe that’s why I never need to check my calendar when somebody asks me when I’m available for a meeting. I already know because everything is already in place.

Next, you should live a process-oriented life.

The best way to explain what I mean is to use goals as an example. 

Most people set goals and focus on the outcome of achieving that goal. If it’s weight loss, your goal may be to lose 50 pounds. While that’s not bad, focusing exclusively on the end goal is a fast way to fall off the wagon after a single, out-of-control weekend. But there is a better way…

Instead of losing 50 pounds, it’s much easier to focus on the steps that will get you there—watching what you eat, exercising, keeping yourself motivated, shopping for your future skinny jeans. The mindset is simple: as long you keep doing what’s working, you’ll get what you want. Simple.

A scripted life and a process-oriented life is a good life. Figure out what works and do it over and over again.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices